Collins described it in 1929 as talliss crowning achievement, along with his lamentations. Thomas tallis spem in alium this is the original release of the tallis scholars acclaimed recording of talliss monumental 40part motet. With eight choirs of five voices, spem in alium often comes. What tallis does is to use the text and make it into a throughcomposed motet, but a motet of an. Spem in alium has been listed as a level5 vital article in an unknown topic. By joining our community you will have access to post topics, upload content and access many other. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Gimell thomas tallis spem in alium the tallis scholars. What i like most about it is the clarity that has been achieved by summerly, the oxford camerata, and the recording engineers. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Spem in alium was composed during the reign of elizabeth i, probably in 1570. Tribute to thomas tallis british composer thomas tallis was born 500 years ago. Spem in alium nunquam habui praeter in te, deus israel qui irasceris et propitius eris et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis domine deus creator caeli et terrae respice humilitatem. Find classical music concert listings spem in alium by. The repeating structure of the responsory is entirely ignored, and no reference is made to its chant melody. An animated, graphical representation of thomas tallis spem in alium close.
The strictly catholic tallis may have written spem to honour the catholic queen mary, in defiance of the protestant queen elizabeth. Latin for hope in another, the incipit of a medieval sarum rite responsory from the vulgate book of judith, spem in alium is widely considered talliss greatest work. When the full score is sung, only the audience can hear what is going on. Johnathackney in london virgin veritas 7243 5 62230 2 8, 2 cds, combined with other latin motets by tallis among them the lamentations of jeremiah the performance. Spem in alium winchester cathedral choir, david hill on allmusic 1990.
All the works on this cd are also available on the speciallypriced double album the tallis scholars sing thomas tallis. He stunned the london musical scene with a performance of his motet ecce beatam lucem, written for the utterly extravagant ensemble of 40 voice parts. It is considered by some critics to be the greatest piece of english early music. This is an excellent recording with good transparency and spacial structuring. Striggios work is great, too, but there is something utterly transcendental about talliss masterpiece. Wikiproject classical music this article is within the scope of wikiproject classical music, which. An animated, graphical representation of thomas tallis. Spem in alium score, found at via wikimedia commons. Spem in alium is tallis most astonishing achievement, in a life which continually involved him being inventive and adaptable. Spem in alium tallis scholars peter phillips gimell 158506 lp gimell 1585t06 cass. Notes fortypart motets from the sixteenth century are an exceedingly rare species.
As part of radio 3s 40th anniversary, stephen johnson is joined in the studio by jeffrey skidmore, deborah roberts and antony pitts for an exploration of thomas talliss magnificent 40part motet. The renowned spem in alium is a perfect example of the former technique, being liturgically a responsory from the historia iudith. I feel like such a luddite or i expect so little from reddit that i misread that as sperm in alium, and was trying to work out the reasoning. The rediscovery of the mass by davitt moroney and his researches have confirmed most of the salient details of this story, in particular verifying the account of one thomas wateridge, a law student at the temple. Spem in alium nunquam habui praeter in te deus israel qu read more. In july 1561 cardinal ippolito deste was ceremonially welcomed to florence, probably the occasion for. In this sound installation, each of the voices of thomas tallis composition, spem in alium have been recorded separately and are played back individually through one of forty speakers. Title sing and glorify heavens high majesty composer tallis, thomas. Tallis was well practised in the elizabethan art of diplomacy, and to a cultured and musicloving queen a perfectly crafted 40 part motet would have been a most acceptable. Except for the unplanned visit to london in june 1567 by the mantuan gentleman, diplomat and composer ales.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. Spem in alium thomas tallis sopranos spem in a spem in spem in and a. Buy tallis spem in alium by the sixteen, orlando gibbons, thomas tallis, thomas tomkins, william byrd, harry christophers from amazons classical music store. Spem in alium thomas tallis tallis scholars youtube.
Whatever the truth, spem is alium is one of the treasures of elizabethan english music. For efficient rehersal, certain files are required. This rich and unique sonic world was met with great enthusiasm in london, as it had been in other european courts. The motet is experimentally syncretic in structure and style. Spem in alium is a forty part motet composed by englishman, thomas tallis c. Spem in alium, a song by the tallis scholars, peter phillips on spotify. Hope in any other have i none or in no other is my hope motet short musical setting of a sacred text by english composer thomas tallis, noted for its complex use of counterpoint in a composition for 40 voices. But even though we know the approximate when of spem in alium, were still unsure as to the why. Clearly spem in alium is an occasional piece, presumably written for a great state occasion, and perhaps the most likely was the fortieth birthday of queen elizabeth in 1573. Tallis festival weekends usually include thomas talliss 40part motet, spem in alium nunquam habui and a largescale choral work often with orchestra, for example. As the story goes, the idea of a song for forty voices was introduced to the english with the visit. Linda ryan is a comentor for two education for ministry groups, an avid reader, lover of baroque and renaissance music, and semiretired. If the video jumps press pause and wait for it to buffer for 30 seconds.
It is the title given to a piece of music composed by thomas tallis in 16th century. Tallis, t spem in alium missa salve intemerata oxford. The fact that the founder and director of the womens choir luna from mainz has developed a special interest in the pure sound of a female choir, is proven by his sacred choral work spem in alium for a cappella womens choir ssaa which is well worth listening to. The 11part arrangement of spem in alium is intended for use by anyone who does not happen to have eight 5part choirs to hand, for the enjoyment of singers and to give them an overview of the work. The tallis scholars 1985 recording of spem in alium has outsold even the tenor luciano pavarotti to reach the number one slot. Spem in alium sheet music download free in pdf or midi. If the choirs are arranged in circular fashion sequentially by number, then the music rotates through the opening points of imitation on spem in alium nunquam habui choirs i to iv and pr. Thomas tallis 40voice motet spem in alium scored for eight fivepart choirs was composed some 400 years before the modern age of recordings, and perhaps its a work thats best left for the experience of live performance. Janet cardiff the forty part motet a reworking of spem in alium, by thomas tallis 1556 2001 not on view when cardiff first heard a recording of thomas talliss ambitious sixteenthcentury choral composition spem in alium nunquam habui in no other is my hope in 1998, she envisioned the possibility of hearing each voice in isolation. Welcome to talk classical a community covering every aspect of classical music.
The forty part motet a reworking of spem in alium 1575. I have a number of recordings of thomas tallis spem in alium, but this is easily my favorite, standing above the tallis scholars and pro cantione antiqua. Except for the unplanned visit to london in june 1567 by the mantuan gentleman, diplomat and composer alessandro striggio senior, who came bringing performance. Fifty shades of grey sends sales of thomas talliss spem.
Spem in alium the tallis scholars on allmusic 1994. Spem in alium, by thomas tallis, performed by the taverner choir, accompanied by an animated graphical score. Rehersal files for spem in alium nuncuam habui by thomas tallis thomas tallis spem in alium is composed for 40 voices grouped as 8 quintets ensembles with s,m,a,t,b. Its a fortypart motet performed by eight choirs of five members each which means that you need 40 frigging people singing 40 totally different lines of music. In queen elizabeths time yere was a songe sent into england. The full vocal score and two chorus parts choirs iiv, and choirs vviii are. It is scored for 40 individual voices, divided into eight choirs of five voices each. Spem in alium nunquam habui a motet for 40 voices by thomas tallis c. In 1567, the city of london welcomed the visiting italian musician and nobleman alessandro striggio. Spem in alium latin for hope in any other is a 40part renaissance motet by thomas tallis, composed in c.
The epic 40 part motet by renowned tudor composer, thomas tallis, rewritten for two five part choirs and mezzosoprano, so almost any choir can now perform this legendary piece. One of his most celebrated pieces of choral music was spem in alium, a motet he wrote to be sung by eight five. Monteverdi vespers, bach magnificat, tippett a child of our time. Tallis, t spem in alium missa salve intemerata oxford camerata, summerly by thomas tallis. Spem in alium is probably one of the greatest musical compositions in human history. Spem in alium nunquam habui means in no other is my hope. We are still unsure as to the exact date of tallis birthno records have yet come to lightbut so complete is his understanding of the prereformation style, he must have been born in time fully to experience. Dancers jessy adrien morgan page anna goulding miles ziebart tara john.